Radiative Corrections to the Final State of a Single Two-Level Atom

Sotirios A. Hadjiagapiou

Wonho Jhe

We have made a quantitative study of quantum electrodynamic corrections to the atomic energy levels between parallel conducting mirrors. Within the framework of simple two-level atoms, we evaluate the level shifts numerically and discuss the van der Waals, Casimir, and cavity-resonant radiative shifts as their asymptotic forms. In particular, we find that the level shifts of an excited state are substantially different not only from those of a classical dipole radiator but also from those of an excited atom near a single mirror. For the ground state, however, the shifts are qualitatively similar to those near a single mirror. We also apply the results to some simple atomic systems that may be used to test the cavity QED theory.

Ulrich D. Jentschura, Christoph H. Keitel

Thomas Wellens, Andreas Buchleitner, Burkhard Kümmerer +1 more

We demonstrate that any quantum state |chi> of a single mode radiation field can be prepared with arbitrarily high fidelity by interaction with a sequence of two-level atoms, prepared in a suitable initial state. No final state measurement of the atoms is needed.

Sunil Kumar, C. L. Mehta